We're posting a 2014 old story about Tyler Skaggs on the homepage. Nerves are raw, and he is missed, so let's talk about his life rather than his demise. Santa Monica will surely never know anyone...

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This column by sports editor Mitch Chortkoff appeared two years ago in the Observer and is being run again due to recent requests from readers.) It was 1996 and I was in Honolulu...

Below are facts and gures about Bryant's historic career. • 48,527: Minutes played through April 7, 2016, the sixth most in NBA history • 33,521: Career points, third on the NBA's all-time...

Kobe Bryant ended his 20- year playing career with the Lakers by scoring 60 points Wednesday night in a 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz. Bryant took 50 shots and made 22. He was given only token res...

There's no doubt that Yasiel Puig has a lot of baseball talent. But he's been so erratic with the Dodgers that he's inspired opinions from columnists and fans that he should be traded. But what's...

I went to Staples Center Sunday to see a basketball game. Instead, I saw a workout. Blake Griffin was returning to the Clippers after missing 45 games due to a broken hand, a torn quadriceps and a...

Many UCLA basketball fans are so eager to see Coach Steve Alford fired that they signed a petition requesting that. It's pretty shocking how UCLA recently finished its season, finishing 10th in the...

Last season the Dodgers had the highest player payroll in baseball history-- $291 million. They didn't reach the World Series and now there is evidence that the Dodgers have adopted a new strat- egy....

The Padres were on the verge of beating the Dodgers Sunday in San Diego. With the winning run on base in a 2-2 tie in the ninth inning Juston Upton hit a drive to deep centerfield. Within seconds the...

Okay, this season is over. The Golden State Warriors are champions – well deserved because they had the best regular season record with 67 wins and then proved in the playoffs they're for real. Now...

How surprising. The Clippers went to Houston with short rest, learned that Chris Paul couldn’t play and proceeded to win Game 1 of their second round playoff series. But I have something to say to...

As the Houston Rockets begin play in the second round of the NBA playoffs I can’t help wondering what might have been for the Lakers. You see, Dwight Howard wasn’t ready to commit to the Lakers...

By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor The Clippers were dazzling in the first quarter of Game 5 Tuesday night. They raced to a 28-13 lead over the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs at Staples...

By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor When an arbitrator ruled that Josh Hamilton would be entitled to his full 2015 salary from the Angels despite a relapse of cocaine addiction the club responded with...

Major League baseball has announced it won't investigate the Josh Hamilton case, and that means the Angels are stuck with his sizeable contract for this season. Recovering from a relapse of substance...

The Clippers will have home court advantage in the first round of the NBA playoffs but will have to play the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. Game 1 is set for Sunday at 7:30 pm at Staples Center...

John Wooden guided UCLA to 10 national championships and there's a solid case that he's the greatest coach in college basketball history. But if you're a fan of Mike Krzyzewski your man is building a...

When John Wooden was coaching 10 UCLA basketball teams to national championships there was no ESPN. Times have certainly changed. Now the schools best identified with the network rule college...

UCLA’s loss to Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 last week was the final game for Chris Roberts, who has broadcast Bruin football and basketball for the last 23 years. Roberts recently...

So many times during the Lakers’ feat of winning 16 NBA championships I’ve been in the building, feeling the excitement, eager to do my work and being thankful I’m in the sportswriting...

How important are the results in spring training? The popular belief is the results aren't very important since minor leaguers often replace major leaguers in the latter innings of most spring...

For many years the Pac-10 champion and Big Ten champion capped a football season by playing in the Rose Bowl game. This time the conference's best teams, Oregon and Ohio State, will also cap a...

Just like USC, UCLA concluded its 2014 football season with a bowl victory. Oh, it wasn't on a par with Oregon's season, and there's no arguing that the Ducks were the Pac-12's best team. But it sure...

On Christmas day folks annually gather for a festive occasion. But the National Basketball Association has another idea for this holiday. Marketing. The league puts on an extravaganza, Five...

USC, which lost its annual football game to UCLA for a third straight time this season, ended 2014 with a harrowing 45-42 victory over Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego Dec. 27. The Trojans,...